This article explains the difference, the applicable fee and the procedure. A complete overview of extending a temporary permit is provided in the article Extending a residence permit: the complete guide.
In legal terms, the eAT is an independent document. § 78 Abs. 1 AufenthG provides:
"Residence titles pursuant to § 4 para. 1 sentence 2 no. 2 to 4 shall be issued as independent documents with an electronic storage and processing medium."
A period of validity is printed on the card. It relates to the document, not necessarily to the residence permit behind it:
- Temporary residence permit: here the validity of the card and of the permit generally coincide. If the card expires, the permit expires too. An extension is required. What applies in that case is set out in the guide to extensions.
- Settlement permit (§ 9 AufenthG) and EU long-term residence (§ 9a AufenthG): these permits are permanent. They do not end when the card expires. The card itself is designed for a technical period of use of no more than ten years and must be reissued (exchanged) afterwards. The permit remains in force.
Important clarification: with a permanent permit you do not "extend" anything — you renew the card. The permit itself remains valid. The civitas. product nevertheless fills in the form for the reissue; check the legal classification of your permit against your own document.
If the document has to be reissued even though the permit continues to exist, the fee is governed by § 45c AufenthV:
| Official act | Reference | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Reissue of an eAT document (§ 78 Abs. 1 AufenthG) | § 45c Abs. 1 AufenthV | 67 € |
| Defective chip without improper use | § 45c Abs. 2 AufenthV | not charged |
According to the wording of § 45c Abs. 1 AufenthV, the 67 € are charged where the reissue becomes necessary on account of
- the expiry of the period of validity of the previous passport or passport substitute (no. 1),
- the expiry of the technical card usage period or any other change to the particulars listed in § 78 Abs. 1 Satz 3 AufenthG (no. 2),
- the loss of the document (no. 3),
- the loss of the technical functionality of the chip (no. 4), or
- an application under § 105b Satz 2 AufenthG (no. 5).
If the chip has become defective without improper use, the fee is not charged, under § 45c Abs. 2 AufenthV. For Turkish nationals entitled under the Association Agreement, the reductions under § 52a AufenthV apply. The complete overview of fees, including for the extension itself, is available in the article Costs & fees. Whether a reissue is required in an individual case and which fee is assessed is decided by the competent immigration office.
The procedure resembles an extension, but concerns the document alone:
- Check: is the permit expiring, or only the card? With a temporary residence permit usually both (then: extension); with a settlement permit or EU long-term residence only the card (then: reissue).
- Arrange an appointment at the immigration office: in good time, so that no time pressure arises. If no appointment is available, ask in writing how to proceed.
- Apply for the reissue and have your biometric data recorded: photograph and fingerprints; this requires you to appear in person (§ 78 Abs. 1 AufenthG). Fee: 67 € under § 45c Abs. 1 AufenthV.
- Collect the new card: it is produced by the Bundesdruckerei (usually several weeks). The PIN letter for the online identification function is often sent separately.
You know how to renew the card now. All that is missing is the application.
Enter your details once, and civitas. puts them into your immigration office's official form.
No sign-up · your authority's official form
Two procedures that must be kept clearly apart:
- Reissue of the eAT (§ 45c AufenthV): the document is exchanged, the permit continues to exist. Typical with permanent permits or in cases of loss or defect.
- Extension of the permit (§ 8 Abs. 1, § 45 AufenthV): the temporary permit is continued beyond its expiry date. Here the deadlines under § 81 AufenthG and the extension fees apply.
If the temporary permit has already expired, special rules apply; these are dealt with in the article Residence permit expired: what to do?.
We do not assess fees. What we do: we guide you through the required details in a structured way and help you complete the application you have chosen, whether an extension or a reissue. The decision is made by the immigration office.
My eAT card has expired. Does that mean my residence permit is gone?
Not necessarily. The printed validity relates to the document. With a temporary residence permit, the permit generally ends together with the card (then: extend). With a settlement permit (§ 9) or EU long-term residence (§ 9a), the permit is permanent: in that case only the card expires and must be reissued. What applies in your case follows from your document; the classification is made by the immigration office.
Do I have to "extend" my settlement permit?
No. The settlement permit is a permanent permit; it is not extended. What expires is the card (the eAT), which is designed for a technical period of use of no more than ten years. A reissue of the document is then required, not an extension of the permit.
What does the reissue of the eAT cost?
Under § 45c Abs. 1 AufenthV the fee is 67 €, for example on expiry of the technical card usage period, in the event of loss or where data have changed. If the chip is defective without improper use, the fee is not charged, under § 45c Abs. 2 AufenthV. The assessment in an individual case is made by the immigration office.
Why does the card expire if the permit is permanent?
The eAT is a technical document with a chip (§ 78 Abs. 1 AufenthG) and a limited period of use of no more than ten years. This technical time limit on the card is independent of whether the permit is temporary or permanent. This is why the card must also be exchanged after expiry where the permit is permanent.
Do I have to appear in person for the new card?
As a rule, yes. Biometric features are recorded for the eAT: a photograph and, from the age of six, fingerprints. Taking them requires you to appear in person. Whether individual steps are possible in advance in writing or digitally is determined by the competent immigration office.
Does EU long-term residence continue to apply after the card expires?
The "EU long-term residence permit" under § 9a AufenthG is permanent and continues to exist even if the card has expired. For everyday proof and when travelling, however, you need a valid document. You should therefore have the card reissued in good time.
How long does production of the new card take?
After the data have been recorded, the card is produced by the Bundesdruckerei; this usually takes several weeks. There is no statutorily guaranteed or nationwide uniform period. This is a practical value. Allow for a buffer.
Quellen & Methodik anzeigen
- Residence Act (AufenthG): § 9 (settlement permit, permanent), § 9a (EU long-term residence permit, permanent), § 78 Abs. 1 (eAT as an independent document with an electronic storage and processing medium; biometric features), § 105b (reissue upon application), § 8 Abs. 1 and § 81 (extension and deadlines for a temporary permit)
- Residence Ordinance (AufenthV): § 45c Abs. 1 (fee of 67 € for the reissue of an eAT document; nos. 1–5), § 45c Abs. 2 (fee not charged where the chip defect is not self-inflicted), § 52a (reductions for Turkish nationals entitled under the Association Agreement)
- The technical card usage period (a maximum of ten years) and card production times are practical and document-based figures; they are not stated here as a fixed nationwide processing time.
- Statutory texts in the official full version at gesetze-im-internet.de (Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection / Federal Office of Justice): Residence Act (AufenthG), Residence Ordinance (AufenthV)
Status: July 2026. Whether a reissue is required and which fee is assessed is decided by the competent immigration office. All linked references were checked against the official full text at gesetze-im-internet.de on 30 July 2026.